Since, then, though, Aldo has apparently changed his mind. According to UFC president Dana White, Aldo has balked at the notion of defending his title against the former WEC lightweight champion.

"Jose Aldo came out and said There's no way in hell I'm fighting Pettis,'" White told reporters following the UFC 157 post-fight press conference at the Honda Center. "He's absolutely refusing to fight Pettis. Doesn't think he deserves the shot."

According to White, Aldo's manager, Andre Pederneiras, met with White and Lorenzo Feritta last week in London and said his fighter won't take a bout with Pettis.

"He sat down with me and Lorenzo and he said "we don't think he deserves it," White said. I said What do you mean, you don't think he deserves it?' I said Are you out of your f--- mind? Are you serious, did you seriously just ask that question?' It's like if Aldo wanted to move up to 155, we're going to say he's not the No. 1 contender? What are you talking about?"

A planned Aldo-Pettis fight has drawn quite a bit of reaction from MMA fans, both pro and con. On one hand, purists don't believe Pettis, winner of three straight fights and seven of his past eight, should be granted an immediate shot at the champion of another weight class. On the other, the bout from a stylistic standpoint looks to be a potential thriller, at a time when there's no clear-cut number-one contender at featherweight for Aldo, who hasn't lost since 2005.

White's in the latter camp, and he insists he'll get his way in the end.

"That's fight's on," White said. "He's going to fight Pettis or he's not going to like how this is going to turn out."

Thats crazy ive never seen a champ say he refuses (other than the UFC 151 event) I hope dana steps up and puts Aldo in his place so he isnt like Anderson. Wanting to pick fights. What do yall think about this?

Whether fake story or not, this is a bad move by Team Aldo. There's no need for hype, this match is already a superfight just by the mentioning of Aldo and Pettis in the same sentence. Aldo is going to lose some fans as a result of this story. If Aldo doesn't really want to fight Pettis, what's the use of complaining? It's not like he has or ever had any power to decide who his opponents are. Aldo's job is to fight. He's not a match maker. Besides, he has stated in the past he would like to move up to 155. If he is so afraid of Pettis he should've retired. Did he really think competition wasn't going to get tougher after Frankie Edgar? If so, he's an idiot. Aldo is one of my favorites; this is disappointing to hear. Hopefully all the talk is coming from his manager and not him.

Dedé is the one angry with this.....he wants the title shot at LW first.....
Aldo and his team are trying to make Aldo vs Henderson.....Dedé Perderneiras said in a couple of interviews recently that they think is unfair to match PEttis with Aldo unless they give Aldo the shot against Henderson....

The UFC does not want to give Aldo the chance to fight for the LW title.....
Dedé already said, that if they give Aldo the shot at the LW belt, they donīt have a problem with the pointless Pettis fight....

And this should show clearly to everyone how White is a deceitful, misleading *******...he didnīt say a word about the reason Aldo is refusing the fight....
He wants the shot at LW ! Thatīs all he wants to fight an undeserving challenger like Pettis.

And this should show clearly to everyone how White is a deceitful, misleading *******...he didnīt say a word about the reason Aldo is refusing the fight....
He wants the shot at LW ! Thatīs all he wants to fight an undeserving challenger like Pettis.